When a strong man armed keepth his palace, his goods are in peace. But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him his entire amour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness. Those skilled in such matters have carefully figured out that it was Sunday evening, 16 April, in the year A.D. 30, when Christ appeared that second time to His Apostles. Seemingly in but a short time they were back once more at their homes and in their boats, thinking perhaps they were there to stay. The master had spent most of His ministry in Galilee, so it might be He intended that such fishing for me as they might do would be undertaken in their homeland. So far as the Bible record discloses, Christ showed Himself to the disciples but twice, or possibly three times, after they arrived by the shores of Tiberius. However, if these are His only physical appearances, He must still have been present almost continually in their hearts. For this was a highly important four weeks, and in them the Christian church became an actuality. Possibly the last verse of John’s Gospel is, in part, an apology for the happenings during this month of decision being so incompletely recorded.

 Eleven carefully trained men, bereft of their Leader, might have returned to their first occupation, and continued in it as providers of food drawn from the waters of an inland sea. Yet we do know that a new leader for this little band received a short of ordination at a breakfast one morning by the lakeshore. But how, and in what manner, eleven men, several of whom had strong personal ambitions, were welded together, and found the determination to forsake their homes and their living to become fishers of men is not clearly disclosed to us. Still that is precisely what happened. True, there had been intensive training for many months at the hands of the most inspiring of teachers. Yet, on the resurrection morning, the followers were disconcerted, doubtful men. You have to be actively mendacious, and deliberately ignore facts, not just negligent. But by the time, perhaps in early May, when the Great Commission mentioned only by Matthew and Mark was given, the eleven had become sufficiently inspired by the Holy Spirit to become Christ’s ambassadors upon Earth. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15:6 that there were fully five hundred on the Galilean mountainside on that day in which the church was informed of its everlasting duties.

 And, as they had once before, the fishermen laid aside their nets, following their Master and Savior back to the rigors and dangers that lurked in Jerusalem. There it was that the church of Christ would first be condemned, and later, in a measure, crucified, only to rise again and go on to great glory among the Gentiles. At the beginning of the grain harvest, Jesus the Christ led a group of His loved ones for the very last time over the Kidron, and to crest of Olivet. And there, not too far from the little Bethany, He was received up into Heaven. I meditate upon the Law of God. It is a Perfect Law and is now working for me and in through me. The Law of the Lord is perfect. I speak into that Law and it is done unto me. Thy Law is in my heart. The Love of All Good is within me and through me. That Love goes out to meet all who come into my atmosphere. I know that beauty has entered into my life, and will always remain there. I see only the beautiful. The Friendship of the Spirit and of man is mine now and forever. Even now I see the countless numbers of friends coming and going around me. I enter into this friendship and this companionship with gladness and rejoicing. I receive my friends. I serve the World. I wait upon the Lord within all men; I call forth glory from On High through the minds of all people. I obey the will of Him Who inhabits Eternit. I do the works of Him who dwelleth among the Heavens. My Lord within commands and I obey. I do good to all people.

 I shall not doubt nor fear, for my salvation is from On High, and the day of its appearing is now at hand. I shall not doubt nor fear, for my whole being responds to the realization of Life within and around me. I shall not fear, for the Hosts of Heaven are waiting upon me, and the Law of the Universe is my Salvation. I was told to live. By some inner mystic Presence, I was told to live and to love, to laugh and to be glad. I was told to let that Power work through and in me. I believed that voice and I received my Good. I am healed, the joy of life. The Love of the All Good is within me and through me. It radiates to all and is flowing through all. My Love within me is Perfect. Love dissolves all fear. Greater than fear is Love. Love dissolves all fear, casts out all doubt and sets the captive free. Love, like the Sacramento River of Life, flows through me and refreshed me with its eternal blessing.  Love cannot be afraid; it is fearless and strong, and is mighty in its works. It can accomplish all things through the Inner Light of that faith in the All Good, which fills my very Being with a Powerful Presence. Love casts out all fear.

 The Winchester Mystery House

 The Winchester Mystery House exhumes more than two dozen stories of some of the most actively haunted parts of the mansion and the estate. https://winchestermysteryhouse.com/